M Michele's Musings

I Rejoiced

I Rejoiced when they said unto me,

Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Psalms 122:1

Have you ever been in a situation where life seems to be bearing down on you? You feel hopeless, alone, lost and overwhelmed. Recently I was feeling that way. I was going through a really difficult time in my life. I felt as if I had reached my limits and could not take much more. I was at the end of my rope, dangling helplessly, barely able to hold on any more. I was ready to quit, throw in the towel, give up. I didn’t know how to handle things, how I should respond or what I should do in the situations I was facing. I had no answers and I desperately needed them.

As my usual practice on Sunday’s, I went to church. From the moment I walked through the front doors of church that morning an amazing service took place. With my heart broken and vulnerable, I wept unabashedly as I worshiped during the song service. I did not care who saw; all I wanted to do was to touch God and have Him touch me and speak to me. I wanted answers and answers I received. God, in his goodness, devoted a complete service to me, at least, that’s the way it seemed. Every song sung, every testimony shared, every prayer prayed, every word that was spoken was meant for me that morning. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before in one single service. The answers I received were not exactly the answers I was praying or looking for. Naturally, I longed for complete and total deliverance. However, the answers I did receive were received in the form of strength and hope to face a new day. They were answers that helped me to forgive, carry on and walk in victory through what I was facing. The answers brought me into a perfect peace carrying over to an acceptance of the situation I was in.

I am still in amazement at how God devoted a whole service just to me. I am in awe of how, though He didn’t answer my “please deliver me” prayer, He still delivered me from the turmoil of my mind. He gave me the strength to continue and to walk with peace through the tough situation I was facing. Even weeks later, I continue to be in awe of how he touched me that day though my circumstances have not changed in any tangible way. As if I wasn’t going through enough, I am now facing even more challenges. Yet, here I am walking through these trials with peace and joy in my heart. God, in His infinite mercy, has upheld me. God continues to use that experience and subsequent church services to encourage and uplift me using loving people, songs, kind words, testimonies and His amazing Word. It is as if He has surrounded me in His care and love these past weeks. “You [God] have hedged me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me.” Psalms 139:5

Recently, I heard the testimony of a young lady who went through a difficult experience and heard these words in her heart, “Don’t walk… Run, run back to church.” The words were intriguing and caught my attention. I am sure these were God spoken words. They echoed my exact feelings. Run, Michele, run to church, God is there. He will meet you, encourage and give you new strength, hope and love! Today, with so many other avenues to receive the Word of God such as radio, podcasts, iPads and television many have stopped attending church all together. It is a sad state of affairs when Christians stop fellowshipping with one another. Sometimes it is necessary to stay at home (illness, employment obligations, etc…) so those other avenues are great but they should not take the place of attending church when there is the opportunity, way and means to be present at church services. When we choose to stay home we are missing out on God’s plan and His blessings.

Hebrews 10: 24-25 admonishes us, “And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” In Ephesians 4: 11-13, 16 we are told, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

I have always loved going to church but I see the importance and need of going to church in a whole new light during this very trying time. The Body of Christ (you and I) desperately need each other, especially on those days that we are facing tough situations. It may be the very thing that we need to get us through. God has appointed men and women of God to bring us His word. He has appointed each and every one of us to be carriers of His life, light and love to others. The perfect place to do this is in the House of the Lord. The church is to be a sanctuary for the people of God and for the people who need God. It is a place where we can hear from God through the spoken word. It is a place to be touched by God through those who love and serve Him. If we don’t go to church we will miss out on the blessings that God can bring us. We also miss out on the opportunity to bless others. So, don’t walk but run, run back to the House of the Lord and sing along with the psalmist, “I rejoiced when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”

Love in Christ, Michele

Columnist: Michele's Musings

Michele Abshire is a housewife, mother, grandmother, and full time legal assistant. She has been published in Lake Charles, Louisiana publications, Christian Star Newspaper and Gumbeaux Magazine.

Michele began writing notes of encouragement to people God put on her heart which led her in the direction of writing short encouraging stories, letters, essays and analogies. This quickly became a ministry for her.

Michele's vision is to reach people with encouraging messages that will lift their heart and bring joy for sorrow and hope for discouragement. Michele enjoys your feedback so leave a comment in the form at the bottom of the page or email her at micheles.musings@gmail.com